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Abiotrophia defectiva as a cause of infective endocarditis with embolic complications in children

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Abstract

Abiotrophia defectiva is a rare pathogen of infective endocarditis (IE) but is frequently involved in embolic complication and valvular dysfunction. IE caused by A. defectiva in children is poorly studied. This study reports four cases of A. defectiva IE in children and reviews previously reported five pediatric cases of A. defectiva IE. Most of the patients presented with a subacute course, with prolonged fever or atypical symptoms. Eight patients had embolic complications at presentation. All nine children were treated with combination antimicrobial therapy and six of them received surgical intervention. All patients recovered well without relapse. A. defectiva should be considered in children with infective endocarditis, especially in those with atypical presentations. As complications are frequent and more than half of the patients need surgical treatment, prompt diagnosis along with appropriate treatment is necessary.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children’s Hospital, Seoul, Korea

    Seung Ha Song, Bin Ahn, Eun Hwa Choi, Eun Jung Bae, Sang Yun Lee, Mi Kyoung Song & Mi Seon Han

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Eun Hwa Choi, Eun Jung Bae & Sang Yun Lee

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea

    Seung-Pyo Lee

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea

    Eun Young Cho & Geena Kim

  5. Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul National University Children’s Hospital, Seoul, Korea

    Woong Han Kim

  6. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea

    Taek Soo Kim

  7. Department of Pediatrics, Seoul Metropolitan Government-Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, 20 Boramae-ro 5-gil, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, 07061, Korea

    Mi Seon Han

Authors
  1. Seung Ha Song
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  2. Bin Ahn
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  3. Eun Hwa Choi
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  4. Seung-Pyo Lee
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  5. Eun Young Cho
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  6. Eun Jung Bae
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  7. Sang Yun Lee
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  8. Mi Kyoung Song
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  9. Woong Han Kim
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  10. Geena Kim
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  11. Taek Soo Kim
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  12. Mi Seon Han
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Correspondence to Mi Seon Han.

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The author(s) declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This study was approved by the institutional review board at Seoul National University Hospital.

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Song, S.H., Ahn, B., Choi, E.H. et al. Abiotrophia defectiva as a cause of infective endocarditis with embolic complications in children. Infection 48, 783–790 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-020-01454-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-020-01454-z

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